New Delhi: The central government has issued a strong warning to citizens regarding a widespread fraudulent claim circulating on social media. A series of viral videos and posts have falsely asserted that the government is offering loans of up to Rs 3 lakh under a purported ‘Pradhan Mantri Loan Yojana’ merely by presenting an Aadhaar card.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB), the nodal agency of the Government of India, has officially stepped in to debunk the misleading information. Through its dedicated fact-checking wing, PIB Fact Check clarified that no such financial assistance scheme is currently being operated by the central government.
Taking to the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, PIB Fact Check shared a snippet of the viral video alongside a prominent red cross mark to signify its illegitimacy.
“Beware of fake schemes with lucrative claims!” the official agency posted. Addressing the specific misinformation, it added, “Claim: A loan of ₹3,00,000 is being given to everyone on their Aadhaar card under the Pradhan Mantri Loan Scheme. This claim is fake. No such scheme is being run by the Central Government.”
Authorities have raised concerns that such lucrative but fabricated offers are often deployed by cybercriminals as phishing traps to steal sensitive personal and financial data from unsuspecting individuals. By asking for Aadhaar details to process a non-existent loan, scammers can easily carry out identity theft or empty bank accounts.
The government agency has firmly advised the public to remain vigilant against unverified forwards on platforms like WhatsApp, YouTube, and Facebook. Citizens are urged to rely strictly on official government portals (ending in .gov.in or .nic.in) to access authentic information regarding state-sponsored welfare and public welfare initiatives, rather than falling prey to internet rumors.